Saturday, November 17th Hike - BRING SNOWSHOES

Please bring your snowshoes for the Sat. 17^th. hike, they may be necessary after the snow on Thurs. night.

Phill

***** General Meeting Reminder *****

This is a reminder about our upcoming General Meeting on Tuesday, Nov 20, 2018.   All members are invited to attend.  Meeting time is 7pm. Our guest speaker is Sarich Sports...talking to us about winter gear.   After the guest speaker, we will have the opportunity to nominate and to vote for a new president for the remainder of the term, that is from Dec 2018-Nov 2019.  If you cannot make the meeting and are interested in nominating someone, or wish to serve as club president,  please send a note with someone coming to the meeting.  

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Rye Lake 2018-11-12

Photos by Desiree
Our fearless leader Chuck led a group of 11 to Rye Lake on this beautiful snowy morning.
PHOTOS

Banana Lake 2018-11-10

Photos by Bob and Astrid.
Great hike in the first snowfall of the season.  9 hikers to Banana Lake but no banana tees found.  Lots of detours around wet areas and we made a few wrong turns, but we got to where we wanted to go eventually!  PHOTOS

Hike to Stoneridge 2018-11-08

Photos by Steve Calverley
PHOTOS

Upcoming Election!

Hey guys, its the one year mark as your club president and now it is time for a change.  At the upcoming Nov 20th general meeting you will have the opportunity to nominate and to vote for a new president for the remainder of the term, that is from Dec 2018-Nov 2019.  
If you cannot make the meeting and are interested in nominating someone, or wish to serve 
as club president,  please send a note with someone coming to the meeting. Nominations can also  be accepted in writing prior to the meeting by contacting one of the executive members.   

Looking forward to the membership vote!

Thanks!

Laura

Minutes from General Meeting September 18th, 2018

Coureurs de Bois

General Meeting September 18^th/2018

Members Present – 27

Laura C. opened the meeting @ 7:05 pm

Guest Speaker -   author Lindsay Paton Lodge

The author, was born in Toronto, and was an animal and nature lover from an early age. She had hoped to become a fish and wildlife biologist. Enroute to achieving that goal, in 1968 she met “Trapper” (the King of Algonquin Park), and thus began a lifelong relationship and her life-long adventure of living off the land in the remote wilderness; real wilderness survival - no helicopter dropping supplies, no camera crew a few feet away, no doctor just a phone call away.

Paton spoke about her book King of Algonquin Park which describes the colourful life of Joseph Emmett Chartrand 

(b- 1914- d 2000). 

At a young age he (age 8) and his sister (age 6) were left to fend for themselves after the death of their mother, and after their father never returned home one day.  The young “Trapper” eventually got his little sister out to civilization and she was raised by his mothers’ sister. Being self-reliant, resilient and beholden to no-one  he survived by living off the land. He lived in old root houses from the square timber days, and  an old bark tepee he found in the forest, and in caves. He fished, hunted and trapped and was on his first “River drive” (logs)) at age 14.

He was the infamous and notorious poacher of Algonquin Park. He was known as the “Beaver Man”, “King of the Long Runners”, and finally the “King of Algonquin Park”.  He walked everywhere in the park, because he was poaching beavers illegally, and didn’t want to be caught. He wore his snowshoes backwards and made stilts with moose hooves carved on the bottom so the Park Rangers wouldn’t catch him.

The book chronicles the adventures and she has written a second book called The King’s Ransom, and is currently working on a third.

Paton  had copies of her book for sale at the meeting. It is also available on Amazon.ca as a download or signed copies from the author at her webpage at 

<paton@patonlodgelindsay-author-artist.ca>.

The presentation was filled with history from the voyageur times and Trapper’s descent from the real voyageurs. The book is full of wilderness experiences and knowledge that bring much laughter and tears to the reader. Its the real thing.

The Club Members virtually swarmed the author and purchased books. The author thoroughly enjoyed her evening with the club members and hopes to attend again in the future.

Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted by Phill B. and seconded by Judy M.

President’s Report -

A Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was hosted by the City of Elliot Lake on Sept 15^th.

^{The Highway Clean-up from Depot Lake took place in May.  At the end of September / beginning of October another clean-up is to be scheduled from Depot to the Airport.}

^{Shared Use Trails- The executive of the Shared Use Trails is trying to get people hiking.  Brad Parsons is the liaison.}

^{The City will be making “building lots” (commercial) on Fox Drive.  This will impact ATV, snowmobile, and hiking trails around Porridge Lake.}

^{The VTA has a new website.  They also have new trailhead signs.  Their AGM will be held in Iron Bridge this year.}

^{We have an emergency simulation this year put on by the city.  Marty, Jackie, Emily, Jim, Chris, and Tom, have volunteered to take part.}

^{Trail Masters Report -}

^{We cleared the Cobre Trail up to Blue Sky Lake and Vasseau Lake.  4-5 km are left to do.}

^{Marty T. is hoping to have another trail clearing by the end of this year.}

^{A section of the VTA trail from Spanish to Blind River needs to be cleared and marked.}

^{Elliot Lake > McGivern > Granary Lake, approx. 1 km needs to be marked.  It is very close to being completed (our section of the VTA trail).}

^{Crooked Creek needs a bridge.}

^{Treasurer’s Report -}

^{Jackie S. reported all transactions since our last meeting.}

^{Motion to approve by Jackie S.  Second by Gerry J.}

^{Old/Ongoing Business -}

^{A motion to approve closing the research on separating from the VTA was made by Laura C., and was seconded by Jean-Guy.}

^{New Business –}

^{Members to pay Donna C. for membership dues. You no longer need to pay through the VTA.  Donna will accept cash or a cheque.  Receipt to be issued.}

^{Xmas Party -}

^{The Christmas Party will be on December 7th at The Moose Lodge.  Sheila H. is organizing the event.  More details will be posted on the blog.}

^{A new Hike Leaders Course will be offered by Jerry J.   More details will be on the blog.}

^{Jean-Guy will be investigating getting a Spot Satellite for more of our difficult hikes as there seemed to be a problem on a recent hike with communication on a Cobre Trail hike.}

^{Judy M.  showed us a prototype cloth sling bag for use when we are hiking to collect garbage.  She hopes to have some to donate at the Christmas party and is investigating if the Quilting Guild can make some more.}

^{A motion was made to give a stipend to Paton Lindsay Lodge for her talk on the King of Algonquin Park.  Motion to approve by Jackie S, second by Emily W.}

^{Meeting adjourned @ 8:45 pm.}

^{Next General Meeting is scheduled for November 20th @ 7pm at the Snowbirds Clubhouse.}

Elliot Falls & Red Briffet Trail, 2018-11-03

Commentary and photos by Astrid
Nineteen of us hiked along the ATV/Snowmobile trail from Pipeline Road to Elliot Falls.  We enjoyed the rush of the water before climbing up, up, up the Red Briffet trail to the lookout across from the High Rocks overlooking Elliot Lake.  We sure got a cardio workout on the way out; where DID that hill come from? PHOTOS

Lower Rochester, 2018-10-30

Photos by Astrid

A good turnout of 13 hikers for Tuesday's TBA hike to Lower Rochester.  Always a beautiful ramble.  PHOTOS

Memo regarding the Christmas Party

Memo regarding the Christmas Party happening on Friday, December 7th: Cocktails at 5:30, dinner 6:15, door prizes, dancing to the music of the Jacques Brothers.  Tickets ($25 each) will be on sale from November 5-23;  you will be contacted by either Gayle Robinson, Gerry Jean or Sheila Hoo (email or phone).  Please make arrangements with your contact person to pick up your tickets.  Questions can be directed to Sheila at sheilahoo@hotmail.com or 705-848-3105.  Looking forward to a fun evening!